To avoid growth of mold and mildew in University facilities which can impact the health and comfort of building occupants and to provide a systematic approach to remediation of mold and mildew problems.

Policy Summary:

Definition of Terms in Statement:

Policy Statement:

In the event of a flood or large water leak that results in wet building components or furnishings, efforts must be made to dry out the moisture within 24-48 hours.BACK TO TOP

Procedures:

Contact your specific maintenance organization (e.g., Facilities Management, Housing Maintenance, Medical Center Physical Plant, etc.) and the Office of Risk Management immediately in the event of a flood or large water leak. An effort will be made to dry wet porous materials (ceiling tiles, installed carpeting, upholstered furnishings, and wallboard) effectively within 24-48 hours (by active vacuum extraction followed by area dehumidification) to ameliorate mold growth. You should contact the appropriate service office if you discover visible mold on building materials (drywall, ceiling tiles) or furnishings (carpeting, upholstered furniture, or books) and the contaminated area totals approximately 10 square feet (or more).

Besides floods, uncontrolled high humidity (i.e., consistently greater than 65%) may result in indoor amplification of mold. Improper placement of vapor barriers and persistent leaks of plumbing fixtures can result in growth that exceeds the results of a single flood. Industrial Hygiene specialists from Environmental Health and Safety (EHS, at 982-4911) can assist in investigating and identifying building deficiencies, specific health complaints, and hidden sources of contamination.BACK TO TOP

Remediation:Porous materials from which microbial growth cannot be adequately cleaned must be removed from buildings. The removal process of mold-contaminated materials will vary depending on the location and extent of the mold growth, but will likely require some level of isolation or containment. Larger areas with mold contamination may require evacuation of occupants and the involvement of trained abatement professionals. Representatives of EHS are qualified to make this determination. Mold inspections may only be performed by state-licensed mold inspectors. Remediation of more than ten square feet of mold-contaminated building materials may only be performed by state-licensed mold remediator workers with a state-licensed mold remediator supervisor. Any remediation attempt must include long-term plans to maintain systems and prevent recurrence of microbial contamination. This means the correction of the conditions contributing to the moisture. These plans will address adequate repairs and preventive maintenance of the building structure, the HVAC, the plumbing, and any other building systems. These plans must also include a means for the prompt response to recurring problems.BACK TO TOP

Related Information:

The University has incorporated several sources into its policy, including:

the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists1,

the AmericanCollege of Occupational and Environmental Medicine2,

the American Industrial Hygiene Association3,

the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification4, and